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Saturday, December 14, 2013

Merry Christmas................

I want to wish everyone a Happy Christmas. I also want to wish people Happy Holidays. I would not have said that before. I was one of those Christians who thought that people were trying to do away with Christmas.
Well I sort of had a revelation. Not sure why or how but I did. Christmas is a celebration of the birth of our Saviour, of the Christ child. It's not really His birthday but is sort of like the Queen, she has an official birthday. We don't know the date of His birth and maybe that's because He would not want a "birthday" party. I don't know. What I do know, is that this is supposed to be a season of Love and Goodwill towards men.
We use the symbols of Christmas to remember the day of His birth. The Star that guided the wise men to His humble place of birth. The Nativity set to show how He was accepted by the poor and the animals first. His angel spoke to the shepherds bringing "Tidings of Great Joy to ALL men" We give gifts to each other in rememberance of the Magi's gifts to the baby Jesus. Things used at His death and buriel.
However a lot of what we do is also very pagan. The Holly, Misletoe, the tree among other things. So really can we say that we have not taken Christ out of Christmas already? It's a Hallmark holiday. It's commercial. It starts at Thanksgiving and the January sales begin right away. Boxing Day is not celebrated here in America. Twelth Night is gone. It's back to work day after and on with the every day hussle and bustle and returning of unwanted gifts. Instead we should be treasuring them because someone though about you and chose that item for you. I never ever return or exchange a gift. Years ago it was a "Christmas season" people gloried in it, family and friends were the focus. The bible stories were read to the children.
I used to be very irritated when I was working. We ended up not being able to have a Nativity because it may offend someone. We could not have a tree because someone was a Jehovah Witness. That made me angry. I used to decorate our department but when I had to stop using the things that made it Christmas I refused to do it anymore. To me its NOT about Santa.
I tollerated a holiday I really despise without spoiling the fun for those who love Halloween. I could have. So why oh why can we not be left to do our own thing, within reason.
So where am I going with this you may ask.............My own revelation was this. It is not JUST Christmas. It really isn't. It is a season for many religions to celebrate. Kwanzaa is a week long celebration. Hanuuka is the Jewish festival. Yes, on the calender it is marked as Christmas, because its always been that way. This country and many others now are made up of many many non Christians. If we as Christians are to be loving and kind and worship our Lord, then don't we need to accept it with grace and pleasure that someone wishes us a Happy Holiday, because they do not know what our religion is. Not just because its a date on the calender that says Christmas. We need to greet people with Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays because it really is BOTH. How can we be seen as loving human beings who worship our Lord and then turning away a blessing by saying ITS CHRISTMAS, DONT TAKE CHRIST out of Christmas.........This is just my recent thoughts. I do understand now why a business must "not offend" its customers who may be of a different religion. Ironically, in places like some of the Arab countries they allow people to celebrate Christmas openly and by decorating Malls etc for their guests who are Christian. Can we not be as kind.?..........We can NOT take Christ out of Christmas unless we do it ourselves by our commercialism. By loosing the meaning of Christmas, by calling it Xmas.
Christmas is not about shopping, in what we get for Christmas, it's about Love, Peace, Joy, reflection, family, friends and above all it's about God, who came down to dwell amongst us, to die for us, to save our souls. Don't lets forget that by being petulant when someone says Happy Holidays, because it IS a holiday after all. Or being rude and saying "Its Christmas" because for them it may not be, but they are still wishing you joy......say peace be unto you, let the love of Christ shine through you. Jesus told us to let our light shine before men............. Merry Christmas and Happy joyful Holidays.

7 comments:

You are right, I live in a multicultural Sydney sometimes there is a fuss over various religions being offended about certain things but if you want to live in harmony with different people you must learn to go with the flow and what people believe is their own business and you must also have the right to believe what you will.Merle............

And another thing - that many people don't know - but the X was used as sort of a code for Christ when people found it unsafe to say Christmas - but there is always someone who wants to get in a snit about something - so they spread the rumor that X was taking christ out of christmas - when actually it was just another way of saying it.

I agree completely about Happy Holidays - if people are going to say they are christians then acting kindly and generously towards others is a MUST. Besides - Happy Holidays is all inclusive and that is the best way for us all to be. I'm happy to receive any greeting or good wishes - if I know a person's preference or religion or belief I will honor that - but if not then Happy Holidays pretty well covers it and it always makes people smile when I say it with a smile.

Happy Holidays my friend - each and every holiday as it comes along this season.

I agree with everything you have said my friend, it just seems these days, it's too much about other faiths, if that makes sense? When I was growing up, there was always people around us with different faiths. One of our good friend's are Jewish, they wish us a Happy Hanuuka and we wish them a Merry Christmas, and we both laugh. I think these days you are afraid to say anything! If someone wants me to wish me something and I don't celebrate it, I'm not going to get offended???? I smile and say thankyou! Lighten up people!!!! I bought my mom a crystal star and wished the sales person a Merry Christmas and she said I was the only person so far that said that, and she was touched ;o) I guess it all depends in the mood I am in, if I will say Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays!Janice, I will say to you, A Very Merry Christmas and A very Happy New Year! Many Blessings ;o)

Lovely post, my friend. I agree with you. Why get offended with someone wishing you happiness? It's never bothered me to hear"Happy Holidays!" Merry Christmas is wonderful, too! I just wish more joy and peace for everyone, however one wants to say it! Love, Cindy

Lovely post, my friend. I agree with you. Why get offended with someone wishing you happiness? It's never bothered me to hear"Happy Holidays!" Merry Christmas is wonderful, too! I just wish more joy and peace for everyone, however one wants to say it! Love, Cindy

My Lord and my God: into your hands I will abandon the past and the present and the future, what is small and what is great, what amounts to little and what amounts to a lot, things temporal and things eternal. Amen ~Saint Josemaria Escriva~

It is a mistake to look too far ahead. Only one link of the chain of destiny can be handled at a time. ~ Winston Churchill~
The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
- Numbers 6:24 - 26 -

Take time to dream
The reward of a thing rightly done, Is to have done it
.....Seneca

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
-- Dylan Thomas.

Isn't she lovely? My Queen
"To be good only to yourself is to be good for nothing"
Voltaire

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If you hold on to your possessions and cant let them go, then they are not your possessions, they possess you. (JKS)

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Sophocles

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Beauty and Power

She walks in Beauty, like the nightOf cloudless climes and starry skies;And all that's best of dark and brightMeet in her aspect and her eyes:

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